Why the Toast Always Lands Butter Side Down etc: The Science of Murphy's Law - Softcover

Robinson, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1845291247 ISBN 13: 9781845291242

Publisher: Constable & Robinson, 2005

Synopsis

The frustrating component of life known as Murphy's (or

Sod's) Law is no respecter of persons. The more you are

desperate for things to go right, the more they go wrong. But,

is that really the case, and, if so, is there a rational explanation?

So: when you drop the toast how do you know it will land

butter-side down? Why does the queue you're in always go

slowest? That tune you hate - isn't it the one you can't get out

of your head? However odd it seems, there is generally a

scientific explanation. Much of Murphy's Law stems from the

way the mind works - its physical limitations, evolutionary

biases and social impressionability. In this fascinating book,

popular-science presenter Richard Robinson teases out the

answers, accessibly and entertainingly.

About this title

Book Description

The real, scientific reasons why everything ALWAYS goes wrong

Synopsis

Fun, quirky popular science explaining the real reasons why everything always goes wrong - the various truths behind Murphy's Law. The law of laws, Murphy's Law, sits above all others like an uninvited guest at the feast. Whatever your field of endeavour Murphy is there to trip you up, delay and frustrate you. The more your endeavour, the greater the uptrip. Is there a rational explanation? That's what this book is here to provide. In fact, a closer look at Murphy's Law can give us some insights into us and the increasingly tangled lives we lead. Intended as light reading for the popular science market, this book presents the fullest ever analysis of Murphy's Law, peppered with examples such as why does your toast always lands butter-side down? (it has nothing to do with the butter) Why does your queue always go slowest? Why, when you lose something, do you keep looking in the same place over and over?...And why is it suddenly there the 20th time you look? Why do you think of the right thing to say just after you've put the phone down? Why is the tune you hate most the one you can't get out of your head?

Why do you think of five important things to remember for tomorrow just as you're about to fall asleep? Why do you take the same wrong turning every single time? The first part of the book shows that, however odd the external phenomena at work, there is generally a scientific explanation. But why then do we continually fail to recognize or remember the explanation? The second part of the book goes on to show how much of Murphy's Law stems from the way our own mind works - its physical limitations, evolutionary biases, and social impressionability.

Edition details

• Publisher: Constable & Robinson
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1845291247
• ISBN 13: 9781845291242
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 272